Manchester City are confident of signing Valencia defender Nicolas Otamendi in the coming days, sources have told ESPN FC.
Otamendi, 27, has been linked with a move away from Valencia and although it has been reported City's rivals Manchester United have been monitoring the centre-back, sources told ESPN FC there is "no truth" to the speculation.
The Argentina international has a €50 million buy-out clause in his current contract. While reports of the Premier League leaders hoping to secure a lower fee in return for sending defender Eliquim Mangala to Spain on loan, sources have told ESPN FC that the France international will not be leaving the Etihad Stadium.
Mangala has started the new Premier League season alongside Vincent Kompany in the heart of City's defence, helping them to two clean sheets in their opening two games, but the 24-year-old struggled in his debut campaign for City last season after his £42m arrival from Porto.
City boss Manuel Pellegrini said about Otamendi after Sunday's 3-0 win over Chelsea only saying: "No, I cannot confirm nothing. I do not talk about it."